Lap tray-container



9 1 H. KIRKEBY LAP TRAY-CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1956 D. H. KIRKEBY LAP TRAY-CONTAINER Filed Nov. 19, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Unite LAP TRAY-CONTAINER David H. Kirkeby, Mount Prospect, 11]., assignor, by mesne' assignments, to Lyman D. Dunn, Chicago, Ill.

This invention relates to a lap tray-container, and more particularly to a self-fastened lap. tray-container, which may be formed from a single blank of material.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved lap tray-container which isself-fastenable and extremely economical from the standpoint of material, construction, and assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and. improved self-fastened lap tray-container formed from a blankof cardboard, orthe like, having spaces and holders for various food containers, utensils,- and condiments, formed with a cover, and which is stackable with other lap tray-containers, as well as disposable after use.

, Another object of the invention is to provide a selffastened lap tray-container formed from a blank having means? forming a container area for receiving a plate, a platform in said container area with means defining holders for containers and utensils, acover for said container area, and means defining a second platform beyond the container area having means defining openings for holding containers, whereby the plate and uncovered containers may be carried in the container area, which is closed by the cover, and other containers, which may vary in height, are. carried in the platform adjacent the container area, this arrangement helping to keep the food on the plate warm and covered.

The objects of the invention generally set forth, together with other ancillary advantages, are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the lap tray-container with the cover shown. in closed position and food and beverage containers supported in. a platform section of the device;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 with the cover open and a portion thereof broken away and showing a plate, a food container, and utensils in placetherein;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken generally along the 1ine3--3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 4'4 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the lap tray-container of Figs. 1 to 4 may be formed.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is. shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, an illustrative embodiment of the invention, with the understanding States Patent cut-score line 5 and a continuous cut-score line 6, respectively. The front flap 3 and rear flap 4 each has at one of its ends a tuck flap 7 and a tuck flap 8, respectively, which are scoringly connected to their associated flap by crease lines 9 and 10, respectively. A side flap 11 is scoringly connected to the bottom panel 2 by a crease line 12, and a fold-down flap 13 is scoringly connected to the side flap 11 along a crease line 14. The ends of the side flap 11 and fold-down flap 13 are separated from the tuck flaps 7 and 8 by the cut lines 15 and 16, respectively. The fold-down flap 13 has a pair of openings formed along the score line 12 between the side flap 11 and bottom panel 2, which are defined by tabs 19 and 20 formed by internal cut lines 21 and 22. The rear flap 4 has a cover 23 scoringly connected thereto along a discontinuous cut-score line 24, and the forward end of the cover has a tab 25 movable relative to the body of the cover by a continuous cut-score line 26.

A first platform forming portion, indicated generally at 27, includes a side panel 23 scoringly connected to the bottom panel 2 by a continuous cut-score line 29, and a platform panel 30 is scoringly connected to the side panel 28 by a continuous cut-score line 31. The platform panel 30 has means defining container-receiving openings 32 and 33, including separate flexible tabs 34 and 35, respectively, arranged annularly and connected to the platform panel 30 along discontinuous cut lines 36 and 37. A support panel 38 is scoringly connected to the platform panel 30 along a continuous cut-score line 39. This support panel 38 has slotted tongue members 40 and 41 at its. ends, which coact with slots 42 and 43 formed in the front flap 3 and rear flap 4, respectively, in assembly to define slotted fastening means. The support panel 38 is of an irregular shape and has a contact flap 44 intermediate its ends, which is connected to the body of the support panel by a discontinuous cut-score line 45.

A second platform forming portion includes a second platform panel 46 connected to the support panel 38 along discontinuous cut-score lines 47 and 48 and having a tab 49 scoringly connected thereto along a continuous 'cut-score line 50. The tab 49 is separated from the support panel 30 by cut lines 51 and 52 and along another edge from the second platform panel 46 by a cut line 53. A continuation of the cut line 53 separates the second platform panel 46 from the contact flap 44, and a out line 54 also serves to separate parts of the support panel 38 and second platform panel 46 from each other. The second platform panel 46 is provided with a circular opening 55 defined by a cut edge of the material and has a cutout 56 at one of its ends.

The second platform forming portion further includes 2 a second support panel 57 scoringly connected to the second platform panel 46 by continuous score lines 58 and 59 and separated from the platform panel by internal cut lines 60, 61, and 62. The second support panel 57 is scored intermediate its width and adjacent its ends along discontinuous cut-score lines 63 and 64, so that sections 57a and 57b of the support panel 57 may be disposed at an angle to the remainder of the support panel.

. Although reference has been made to the various scoring connections as either being continuous score, discontinuous cut-score, or creasing, any of these types of scoring may be substituted one for the other Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the lap tray-container may be assembled in the following manner: By turning up the front flap 3 and rear flap 4 and turning in the tuck flaps 7 and 8, the side flap 11 is then turned up alongside the tuck flaps 7 and 8, the fold-down flap 13 turned over and down to enclose the tuck flaps .7 and 8, and the lock tabs 17 and 18 pressed into openings 21 and 22 formed by movement of the tabs 19 and 20 with the side flap 11. i

The tuck flaps 7 and 8, the fold-down flap 13, the lock tabs 17 and 18, and the openings 21 and 22 constitute means for interconnecting the side, rear, and front flaps. The section of the blank having the first and second platform forming sections may then be raised to bring the side panel 28 into abutting relation with the right-hand ends of the front flap 3 and rear flap 4, as viewed in Fig. 5, and the first platform panel 30 placed on top of the front flap 3 and rear flap 4 in parallel, spaced relation with the bottom panel 2. Simultaneously, the support panel 38 is turned down along the score line 39, so as to bring the cooperating fastening means 40, 41, 42, 43 together into locking relationship. The support panel 38 extends down into contact with the bottom panel 2, and the contact flap 44 is at right angles to the support panel 38 and flush with the bottom panel 2. The second support panel 46 is then disposed in parallel, spaced relation to the bottom panel 2 at a level beneath the first platform panel 30, and the support panel is bent, so as to have the panel sections 57a and 57b extending up and down and the remainder of the support panel 57 lying fiush and in engagement with the bottom panel 2.

It will be seen from. the foregoing that a self-fastened lap tray-container formed from a single blank of material, such as cardboard, or the like, has been provided.

The lap tray-container has a container area formed by the front flap 3, rear flap 4, and side flap 11, in which a plate 75 may be placed. An insert 76 of relatively stiff cardboard may be placed in the container area resting on the bottom panel 2, so as to provide additional insulation under the plate 75 and on the bottom of the lap tray-container to permit comfortably holding the traycontainer on a users lap. The insert 7 6 also abuts against the sections 57a and 57b of the second support panel 57 and rests on the second support panel 57, so as to make the second platform structure more rigid. The placement of the plate 75 is facilitated by the arcuate shape of the cut line 60 which, as shown in Fig. 3, is shaped to conform to a portion of the plate periphery.

The second platform, comprising the second platform panel 46, is also within the container area, and the opening 55 therein may receive an open-top container 77, a napkin and utensil package 78, and condiment packages, as shown at 79 in Fig. 4. The napkin and utensil package 78 is placed in an area defined by the vertically disposed support panel 38, the cut lines 53 and 54, and the tab 49, which is scoringly connected to the second platform panel 46. The condiment packages 79 are confined in the cutout 56 of the platform panel 46 and against the front flap 3. The cover 23 may enclose the container area, so as to aid in maintaining the heat of the food carried on the plate 75 and to render the food free from exposure. It will be obvious that many diiferent food selections may be carried on the plate 75, and the open-top container 77 may carry a sauce or liquid to be used with the food served on the plate.

The first platform panel 30, with the openings 32 and 33, may receive suitable containers, for example, the opening 32 may receive a container 80, which may rest on the bottom panel 2, and the container 80 may have a movable cover 81, which also functions to maintain the cover 83 closed by overlying a portion of the cover, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The opening 33 may receive another container 82, having a cover 83, which may contain a beverage and may accommodate several different containers of varying heights and diameters, depending upon the beverage desired. As will be seen from Fig. l, a substantial part of the lap tray-container is flat, so that a series of the tray-containers may be stacked by turning successive containers at right angles to each other and resting one on the cover of the one therebeneath.

The lap tray-container is formed from a single blank of material and requires only two distinct fastening operatione and results in an extremely desirable arrangement for a disposable device with articles arranged similar to a table arrangement in that the beverage container 82 is arranged at the rear of the container 80, which might contain a salad, and the utensils are arranged at the right side of the plate.

I claim:

1. A self-fastened lap food tray formed from a blank comprising, means including a bottom panel forming a compartment, means defining a platform adjacent the compartment having means defining openings adapted to receive and hold containers resting on the bottom panel, means defining a second platform positioned in said compartment at a level beneath and adjacent the first platform, and means defining openings in the second platform in which articles may be placed to rest on the bottom panel, and a heat insulating insert placed in said compartment and resting on the bottom panel and against the second platform to hold the latter platform in place and adapted to have a plate rest thereon, said second platform comprising a member substantially parallel to said bottom panel and a member substantially normal to said bottom panel connected together along one edge, said substantially parallel first member terminating in a free edge in an area intermediate its length, said free edge being opposite said first platform and being curved inwardly toward said first platform, said curved portion adapted to frictionally engage a plate resting in said compartment to thereby assist in retaining it in said compartment.

2. A lap tray-container including a bottom panel, front and rear flaps, a side flap, a side panel, and a cover scoringly connected together forming a container area, a first platform above the bottom panel scoringly connected to the side panel beyond the cover, a second platform above the bottom panel scoringly connected to the first platform and at a level and a position to be beneath the cover when closed, and means defining openings in the first and second platforms for receiving articles to be carried on the tray-container which may rest on the bottom panel, the cover when closed being at a distance from the bottom panel sufiicient to permit the placing of a plate in said container area and articles in said second platform, said second platform comprising a member substantially parallel to said bottom panel and a member substantially normal to said bottom panel connected together along one edge, said substantially parallel first member terminating in afree edge in an area intermediate its length, said free edge being opposite said first platform and being curved inwardly toward said first platform, said curved portion adapted to frictionally engage a plate resting in said compartment to thereby assist in retaining it in said compartment.

3. A self-fastenable lap tray-container comprising, a blank having a base forming portion including a bottom panel, front and rear flaps scoringly connected to the bottom panel with tuck flaps at one of their ends, a side flap scoringly connected to the bottom panel, a fold-down flap scoringly connected to the side flap and having a pair of lock tabs at its edge, means defining a pair of openings in the bottom panel adjacent the scored connection of the side flap to the bottom panel, whereby the front and rear flaps may be turned up with their tuck flaps turned in toward each other and the side flap turned up with the fold-down flap turned down and enclosing the tuck flaps with the lock tabs in the base panel openings, a first platform forming portion having a side panel scoringly con- .nected to the bottom panel opposite from the side flap, a

platform panel scoringly connected to the side panel, a support panel scoringly connected to the platform panel and having a section intermediate its ends of greater width, and means defining cooperating slotted fastening means adjacent the ends of the support panel and the front and rear flaps, said platform panel and support panel being of a greater length from front to rear than the bottom panel, .whereby turning up of the side panel, positioning of the platform panel parallel to the bottom panel, and turning down of the support panel with engagement between the slotted fastening means forms a first platform with the platform panel resting on the front and rear flaps and the support panel intermediate section resting on the bottom panel, and a second platform forming portion comprising, a second platform panel scoringly connected to said support panel on both sides of said intermediate section and a second support panel scoringly connected to the second platform panel and scored intermediate its width, whereby the second platform panel may be placed parallel to the bottom panel with the second support panel extending downwardly to and resting on the bottom panel.

4. In a tray including a bottom wall and a side wall, step-down platforms, comprising: a series of integrally connected hinged panels with alternate panels of said series being substantially parallel to said bottom wall and the remaining panels of said series being substantially normal to said bottom wall, one end of said series being connected to said side wall along a line spaced from the bottom wall and the oher end abutting and frictionally engaging said bottom wall, and a supporting member for said platforms abutting said bottom wall comprising a flap struck from a substantially parallel panel and being an unscored integral extension of the adjacent substantially normal panel, the length of said support member being less than the length of said substantially parallel panel, whereby said platforms are substantially rigidly supported.

5. The tray of claim 4 wherein said series comprises a pair of platforms.

6. The tray of claim 4 wherein a bottom Wall abutting flap is hinged to said supporting member and struck from said substantially parallel panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

